Apple Watch users increase the number of active days increased by almost 31%

The number comes from a massive RAND Corporation study which included 400,000 participants across the US, Europe and South Africa.

Apple Watch helps users move more, according to a recent RAND Corporation study, which included 400,000 people across the US, Europe and South Africa.

Said study involved participants in the John Hancock Vitality program who were given Apple Watches for $25 and who then consequently showed greater physical activity compared to users without one, with dramatic increases in "high-intensity activity days" across the board.

Specifically, participants with a watch on average increased their number of active days by 31 percent on the company's Vitality program. They also increased what the study calls high-intensity activity days by 52 percent, with the most inactive participants in the US (those with the highest average body mass index) increasing their physical activity by 200 percent. This has prompted Brooks Tingle, John Hancock Insurance President and CEO, to say that the Apple Watch program is helping people "live healthier lives."

Since 2016, John Hancock has been offering customers Apple Watches which cost them $25 if they achieve certain physical activity goals.

"The RAND research proves [that] the experience of our customers to date will have long-term impact," Marianne Harrison, joint CEO of John Hancock, said in a statement. "People can successfully take small, everyday steps to improve their overall health."

In related news, the insurer earlier this year began moving all customers to policies that feature Vitality incentives such as the Apple Watch.

For what it matters, it is not the only such game in town; UnitedHealthcare is also offering a free Apple Watch to customers who achieve daily fitness goals for six months.